Writing Your Heart Out with Deborah Shepard

Writing Your Heart Out with Deborah Shepard

The Art and Craft of Memoir

The Michael King Writers’ Centre is delighted to announce two great events with author, film and art historian, and life writing mentor Deborah Shepard.

On Wednesday February 12, Deborah will speak at the Takapuna Library about “the delicious and nourishing practice of writing stories from the heart.”

Her talk will include readings from her own Pain Journal and a book she has in development Writing Your Heart Out: The Art and Craft of Memoir.

The talk will launch a new series of master classes in memoir, which will be held over eight weeks at the Michael King Writers’ Centre, starting on Wednesday March 19.

“Memoir is the best place to discover your writing talent because these are your stories of your life and you know them best,” she says.

The master classes will cover all aspects of life writing, from the history of memoir, the creative process, unlocking the memories, ethical issues, advice about going public and a writer’s toolkit, with writing exercises at each session. They are designed for people who have had some writing experience.

Deborah Shepard Writing Your Heart Out

Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna

Wednesday February 12, 6 pm for light refreshments,6.30 pm author talk

Entry $5 ($2 for the Friends of the Takapuna Library and Friends of the Michael King Writers’ Centre)

Bookings recommended, phone (09) 486 8469

Memoir master classes

Michael King Writers’ Centre, Takarunga Mt Victoria, Devonport

Each Wednesday for eight weeks from March 19 to May 7, 6 pm to 8.30 pm.

Cost $280 incl GST; limited entry; details here.

E: manager@writerscentre.org.nz or phone 09 445 8451

About Deborah Shepard

Deborah is a renowned teacher of life writing. She held the Autumn Residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in 2013, when she worked on Writing Your Heart Out.

She taught memoir through the Centre for Continuing Education at The University of Auckland for eight years. She is a life writing mentor for the New Zealand Society of Author's Mentorship programme and is the consultant biographer for Mercy Hospice, where she facilitates training workshops on the art of recording the stories of people who are terminally ill. She runs a popular forum on her website www.deborahshepardbooks.com where life writers post their stories.

In 2010 she was author/mentor on the First Chapters writing programme in Manukau and Papakura, South Auckland, where she mentored 30 new writers and edited eleven of their life stories for the publication Translucence: Life Writing from Manukau and Papakura.

Her books include Reframing Women: A History of New Zealand Film (Harper Collins, 2000), Between the Lives: Partners in Art (Auckland University Press, 2005) and Her Life's Work (Auckland University Press, 2009).

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